Starbucks is facing a consumer lawsuit over claims that protein drinks labeled “sugar-free” on its cafe menus may actually contain more sugar than a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
The federal lawsuit filed late Friday in Seattle alleges that eight protein drinks sold by Starbucks in the United States contain varying amounts of sugar, even though the company lists them as sugar-free.
On Monday, the menu on Starbucks’ U.S. website listed a 16-ounce (0.5 liter) sugar-free caramel protein matcha with 16 grams of sugar and a 20-ounce (0.6 liter) version of the same drink with 21 grams of sugar. For comparison, a Reese’s Cup contains 11 grams of sugar.
Hagens Berman, a class action law firm, filed the suit on behalf of three individual consumers who purchased sugar-free protein drinks from Starbucks in California, New York and Washington.
“Consumers avoid sugar for a variety of reasons, whether it’s their general health, diabetes, blood sugar or other factors, and for many, mislabeling like this is significant,” said Steve Berman, co-founder and managing partner of the Seattle-based company.
The plaintiffs allege that Starbucks’ naming and marketing of sugar-free products is “false, misleading and unlawful” and that the company violated federal labeling regulations.
Seattle-based Starbucks said the sugar in its protein drinks comes from the protein-fortified milk it uses. The company said it doesn’t add sugar to the drinks and uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
On Starbucks’ website Monday, the drinks were marketed as “sugar-free,” but the company also clearly stated how much sugar was in each drink and that they were made without sugar. added sugar.
“We believe these claims have no merit,” a Starbucks spokesperson said Monday. “Starbucks has consistently and clearly provided information about its protein drinks, sugar-free options, customization choices and nutritional content in product ads, menus, marketing materials, on Starbucks.com and the Starbucks app, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.” »
Starbucks presented its protein drinks in September 2025 to meet consumer demand functional drinks and catch up with rivals like Dutch brotherswhich launched protein-enriched coffee drinks in 2024.
Dutch Bros also offers a low sugar version of their caramel Hopscotch Protein Latte, but it is advertised as the Hopscotch Zero Sugar Added Protein Latte. The 16-ounce (0.5 liter) frozen version has 7 grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein. For comparison, a 16-ounce (0.5 liter) iced Starbucks sugar-free caramel protein latte has 9 grams of sugar and 29 grams of protein.
The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of U.S. consumers who purchased the drinks. He also wants the court to order Starbucks to stop using the “sugar-free” label on products that contain sugar.
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